A Week in the life of a media heart!
Erica Howe - Communications Manager
What a week! It has been busy, emotional, hectic, funny, scary, and all in the last five days.
Monday morning was the calm before the storm, but a really inspiring start to the week. Together with the Broads Authority, The RSPB is looking to the future to plan how we can manage landscape scale conservation in this valuable area. This is really exciting for the RSPB and it means that we can talk to a whole host more people about the health and wealth of the Broads. The Broads is right on my doorstep and somewhere I love to go on a day off. Whether you go for a stroll around the Strumpshaw Fen reserve to clear your head or you want to go in search of otters, playfully gliding along the water’s edge, you won’t be disappointed with the abundance of wildlife there. Working together with more people and organisations will mean big things for the Broads. It is exciting times!
On Tuesday I travelled to our HQ, The Lodge to have a meeting with some colleagues. Going to The Lodge is always lovely, bumping into friendly faces in the corridor and hearing updates from all areas of the RSPB. I can’t discuss a trip to The Lodge without telling you about the canteen!! It’s the heart of the place and always buzzing with conversation, full tummies and passionate debate about something conservation related. As we indulged in a hot lunch, colleagues across all areas of the RSPB will come over and say hi. I sing the praises of the RSPB a lot; the protection of species, the habitat work, the scientific research, the volunteer troops, but equally, it makes me very proud to say that I work for the RSPB simply because of the people I work with. It might just be the festive spirit, but we’re certainly a happy bunch.
The role of a communications manager involves a lot of random comings and goings and often early starts for media interviews and the like. Wednesday was no exception. As my alarm went off at 5.30 and I rushed to Norwich station to get my 7.00am train to London. As I did, I thought of everyone else, warmly tucked up in their beds. How wrong was I? The train to London was jam packed and it would seem that there are actually quite a few early risers in Norfolk! I was taking a trip to London to meet Crossrail in their offices, at Canary Wharf no less. Having to hand over your passport for a meeting was a tad daunting, but after we took the lift to the 38th floor and sat down in the meeting room with a cuppa, all seemed to be going well. That was until I turned round and saw the view! Being sat 38 floors up in the centre of London isn’t a problem, but when the meeting room has clear glass walls on the edge of the building, the meeting took a whole new path. I suddenly got a bit ‘height sick’. Every time I glanced out of the corner of my eye I could see London, a long way down, looking like a toy village. Beyond the immediate view straight down, was the o2 arena, the Thames winding its way round the city, the BT tower in the distance and many other landmarks. Just as i popped out of the meeting to get another cup of tea, I missed the highlight of everyone's day - two peregrine falcons swopping past the window! I will be honest, I was petrified! The meeting itself however was not in the least bit scary and we had a wonderful day discussing the RSPB’s Wallasea Island project.
Soon enough, I was back on the train heading to Norwich, getting myself ready for another ‘day at the office’. No sooner had I walked in on Thursday than I was rushing out again. BBC Look East wanted to film the new Island Mere Hide at Minsmere Nature Reserve for their tea time news slot. I was in the car and driving to Minsmere before you could say, ‘save me a mince pie’.
This is the first time I had actually seen the new Island Mere Hide, and what a surprise! It is stunning. A beautiful building set in one of the most stunning locations in the whole region. The sun was setting and the reeds were twinkling with the fading light. BBC Look East were delighted with their footage and as it gradually got dark, we retreated back into our cars and got on our way. It’s an odd experience doing a TV interview. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s never quite as glamorous as it’s made out to be. For two hours we stood, freezing waiting to get just the right shots. When it came on the TV that evening, it was a lovely to look at the fruits of our labour! The Island Mere Hide will be a fantastic place for families, nature lovers and birdwatchers to experience all things wildlife from otters, to butterflies, birds, to beasts!
And finally, Friday is upon us. Phew. It has been a pretty full-on week, but i wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve thanked our fabulous Communications Team volunteer, Janet today because sadly, we won’t see her again until the New Year. We’ve also been having lots of giggles with funny Christmas Hats for an RSPB montage photo – all in the name of conservation of course! I will let you into a little secret too, today i have indulged in some Christmas treats simply because it’s Friday and we’ve made it through the week! Here’s to a calm and relaxing weekend ....